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Inquiries to:
John F. Kurdzionak, President
at The Watchmaker
379 Main Street
Stoneham, MA, 02180
Phone: 781-438-1037
e-mail: jfkclock@juno.com
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Meetings Past
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
China Moon Restaurant
Stoneham, Mass
John F. Kurdzionak, the current President of the MWCA, a machinist by hobby and an ex-commercial machine shop machine operator, has developed several practical methods for the modern, profit-minded clock shop to machine various simple components for clocks that often need repair or replacement, either from years of wear and tear, or from neglect or abuse by prior repair people. John presented a slide show on these methods, along with some show-and-tell live examples. Topics discussed included ratchet and click repair and manufacture, barrel bearing repair, bushing installation for profit, and repivoting and pivot polishing for profits!
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John's favorite tool
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show-and-tell had a lot of interest
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Meetings Past
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
China Moon Restaurant
Stoneham, Mass
Our speaker was Ed Ueberall, co-author of the Railroader's Corner which appears in every issue of the NAWCC's Bulletin. Ed's interesting presentation was on pocket watches that were accepted for use on railroads in North America (Canada, the US and Mexico) but which were not manufactured in the United States. Although many watch collectors and watchmakers are under the impression that foreign made watches were banned from time service, these watches were used from the 1880s right up through the 1960s, until the introduction of the Railroad-approved wristwatch. A wide variety of Swiss and German made watches will be examined, showing both the similarities and differences with their US made counterparts.
Ed's interest in collecting RR grade watches began in the mid-1970s after examining one owned by a friend. He joined the NAWCC in 1976 and began expanding his collection, while at the same time learning how to work on them with instruction from several local watchmakers. He began a small, local business working on vintage watches in the Binghamton, NY area as well as continuing his full time career in the photographic film and paper industry. In 1995 Ed and Kent Singer began writing articles in the NAWCC Bulletin, which developed into "The Railroader's Corner" in 1996. In 1999 Ed and Kent were the joint recipients of the NAWCC James Gibbs Literary Award, for their work in the Bulletin.
Upon retiring from his industrial career in 1996, Ed expanded his watch restoration business, "THE ESCAPEMENT", to cover all of the US and Canada. He now does vintage watch restoration on a full time basis. Ed is also a lifetime member of our parent organization, AWI.
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American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute
Annual Meeting
August 1 - 4, 2002
Greater Cincinnati Airport Hilton
Click here for pictures.
Jack & John Kurdzionak at entrance to Verdin Clock & Bell Museum
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Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Harrows Restaurant
Reading, Mass.
Jack and David Kurdzionak led a group of horologists on a field trip to Switzerland this past April. The group attended watch repair class in Grenchen, visited the Basel Fair, and did a few touristy things on their 10 day excursion. Jack gave a slide show of the highlights of the trip with commentary from John Buerger and Dick Vanaria who also took the trip.
John Buerger (left), Dick Vanaria and Jack Kurdzionak
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Tuesday, May 21, 2002
Harrows Restaurant
Reading, Mass.
Speaker Ron DeCorte. Ron is the immediate past president of AWI and is currently serving on its board of directors. AWI members will immediately recognize his name as he has been a frequent contributor to Horological Times and a watch made by Ron was featured on HT's cover a few years ago. He is currently serving AWI as chairman of its education committee and a member of its certification and Horological Times committees. He also has taught numerous bench courses for AWI's Project Extend focusing on watch restoration, lathe work, and machine shop practice. AWI has made several educational videos featuring Ron as instructor.
Ron began his working career as a tool and die maker after completing his apprenticeship in 1975. He took up watch making, and I mean actual watch making, in 1990. He considers Switzerland his second home, having worked and studied there for over ten years with such great watchmakers as Philippe DuFour and Derek Pratt. Having made his first watch in 1995, Ron joined a very elite fraternity of craftsmen able to construct a complete watch in his own shop.
Ron's presentation was on "The Packard Collection" of watches formerly owned by AWI. These beautiful, complicated watches were collected by David Packard, founder of the Packard Motor Company, which made some of the finest automobiles ever made in the USA. Mr. Packard's estate willed these watches to the Horological Institute of America. When the HIA and the United Horologists of America merged in 1960 they formed the American Watchmakers Institute. The Packard Collection became part of AWI's museum collection. It was a mixed blessing for AWI. The watches were so valuable they had to be kept in a bank vault, insuring them was a burden, and they had to be guarded whenever they were displayed. In the late 1980's, AWI's board voted to sell the collection and invest the proceeds, which exceeded $7,000,000.
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Tuesday, March 19, 2002
Harrows Restaurant
126 Main Street
Reading, Mass.
Speaker: Tom Barry
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Tom Barry, President of Yeuell Nameplate and Label Company of Woburn, MA, spoke to us about one of the products his company is known least for. Yeuell Nameplate and Label not only manufactures nameplates and labels but they just so happen to manufacture dials for the Ship's Bell model clocks which are made by the Chelsea Clock Company.
Tom is well versed in this product having spent most of his professional career with the Yeuell Company It was a very interesting presentation. Tom's Company web site http://www.yeuell.com/
Jack Kurdzionak (left), John Kurdzionak and Tom Barry
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host of Mass Watchmakers-Clockmakers Association website
